Retrievable well packer



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A Trae/ve y.

L Ap 3, 1945. v R. c. BAKER RETRIEVABLE WELL PACKER Filed Aug." 19, 1941y Patented pn -i .I

' ma.. e; ma',

' Calif., `assigner' to,

y Coalinga,

Baker 011v Tools, Ine.; Vernon, Calif., a corpo- I Y ration 4of.California nppucnupn Angustia, 1941, semi Ng. 4

` 17 Cim. (c1. y16s-12) jrnisvinvenuon renda :to wen devices, and

more particularly to'well\packers` designed to bev et in sealed oi!`condition within wellbores.v

l It is sometimes desirable to employwell pack- Y, ers of theretrievable type in the performance of squeeze cementing, acldizing,testing, or other operations within the well bore,y to obviate thenecessity for drilling out the particular packer)` after'the welloperation has beenv completed. An object lof the present invention is toprovide an improved packer'of the character indicated capable of beingset at the proper pointin the well bore `by the direct application ofhydraulic pressure to its gripping members, releasevof the packer fromits set condition occurring'l automatically upon release of thehydraulic pressure.

in order to enable the tool to be reset at the saineV or another pointin the well bore, or to permit itswithdrawal as a unit to the surface ofthe bore hole. l

, A further object of the invention is-toprovide a well packer of theretrievable type Ain which its casing gripping and packing members areinA retracted position 'during movement of the tool through the casing,both before and after it has been set in sealed ofl conditiontherewithin, the

gripping and packing elements beine.r actuated' directly by hydraulicpressure to expand and hold them against the casing. v-

Stillanother object of vtheinventionv concerns aretrievable well packeradapted to be anchored back-pressure valve at the outlet end of thetool, which is set to open at a predetermined pressure in order that-thepressure internally of the tool be materially in excess of thatexternally there- That is.' sumcient pressurenmust be exerted within thetoolto expand the packer elements into engagement with the casing beforethe backpressure valve can open, and this pressure differ- .ential willbe maintained at all vtimes during displacement of fluids through thetool.

Despite the provision of such back-pressure devices in obtaining therequired pressure differential within the tool, during actual operationswithin' the well bore the pressures internally and externally of thetool sometimes seem to equalize during the displacement of fluids intothe formation, vcausing the casing engaging elements to be y inventionto provide a well packer, especially of to the casing through thevai'n'alication of pressure internally of -the` to.o1, in which thepacker can remain in anchored position veven, though the internalpressure is relieved. In "this connection, the inventi'on contemplatesthe provision of a selective control mechanism for determining theapplication of pressure to the gripping members of the tool, the controlfunction--` ing selectively tol permit or vprevent fluid under pressurefrom actingupon these members.

A further object of the invention is to provide awell packerv adapted tobe set hydraulically, in which premature setting of the tool by fluidun? der pressure can be prevented.

In certaintypes of well packers, the grlppin or packingelementsaremaintained in engaged released andallowing the entire tool to be urgedup the well bore byvirtue of pressure below the tool.

Therefore, it is another object of the present the retrievable type,which is set hydraulically and in which a'ny equalization oi.' thepressure internally and externally of the tool has no effect inproducing its release from the casing or.

vin causing leakage between the packer and casing. More specifically,the invention contemplates an arrangement whereby the pressure below andexternally of the tool, instead of releasing it from -its set positionwithin the casing,

l actually increases the sealing action of the tool against the casing.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a well packerembodying a back-pressure valve at its outlet end -for the purpose ofproducing a greater pressure internally of the tool.

than externallythereof, in which the valve is prevented from closing forthe purpose of automatically filling up or draining the tubing string asthe tool is lowered in or elevated from the well bore. l

- sun a further object of the invention is to provide a comparativelycompact well packer of the retrlevable type in which both the casinggripping and packing elements are constructed v and arranged as a unit,being designed for submentl with vthe casingv by iluid under pressureacting directly thereupon., I-f the internal and external vpressureswere to substantially equalize,

these elements would be forced from engage-- stantially simultaneousexpansion against the casing when the toolis to beset therewithin and.contraction therefrom when the tool ls to be re- V ment with the casingand nolonger function t0v secure the well packer to the casing inleak-proof relation. To prevent thisv action from occurring. it hasheretofore been proposed to provide a Because of the clearance that mustbe allowed between a body'of a tool and the wall of the casing in whichit is run, the packing member designed to Aeifect a seal between thisbody and casing may be forced through this clearan space and evencompletely `dissipated by the action oi' pressure, particularly oi' thehigh magnitudes encountered in the operation oi well pacl'rcome apparentfrom a consideration of the em# f bodiment shown in'the drawingsaccompanying and forming part of the present specification.

This form .will now be described in detail to illustrate the generalprinciples of the invention, but.

it is to be understood that such detailed description is notto be taken'in a limited sense. since the scope of thel invention is best definedby the claims appended hereto. l v

Referring tol the drawings:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal view through a well casing, illustrating thewell packer withitscasing engaging elements in retracted position;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure with the packer anchored in packedoi condition against the casing; 1

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 of the lower portion of the tool.disclosing the entrapment of fluid therewithin for the purpose ofholding the packer anchored in packed oil condition against the casing:

Figures 4, 5 and 6 are cross-sections taken along the lines l-I, 5 5 and6 8, respectively, in Figure 1.

'Ihe well packer A disclosed in the drawings is adapted to be run in awell casing Bon the lower end of a tubular string C to-be set in packed-oiI condition therewithin in such manner as to resist upward movementof the packer by hydraulic force from below.

Y 'Ihe tool includes a support comprising. an outer runner body memberI0, in which is telescoped a generally tubular body member I3. Therunner body member I is threaded to a collar II coupled to an upper subI2 screwed on the' tubing string C, while the tubular body member I3 isslidable along a thrust collar Il threaded in the runner body I0. Thistubular body member has a guide I screwed on its lower end, and isprovided with a head I 8 engageable with the` thrust collar Il to limitthe' extent of downward movementl of the body member..

'a cooperable external flange /20 projecting from vthe lower end of thepacking member I1. The

upper end o! the elastic member is similarly secured against the body I3and the thrust collar I I surrounding the body by its upper externalange 2| interlocking with an inturned iiange 22 depending from thecollar. This latter mem- A combined elastic packing and actuator I1 fora plurality` f lower. ena ma' met u seated-within" an annular groove"provided within .the lower casing engaging packing portion Ila of the.actuating mem-ber in order to prevent vitsinadvertent removal fromtheelastic member Illand to assist in retraction of the segments It from.the casing I .B. The upper portion of each segment body abuts .theunderside 22net. the collar ange 22, being provided with. a neck.extending lengthlwise across the exterior of this flange andmerg-v vinginto an inwardly extending head 2,1 seated within an annular groove orrecess 28 formed bey tween/the collar u .and runner body In.' The undersurface 22a offthe collar flange and the bottom Nago! the recess `28serve .as guides inv directing the movement of the gripper segmentslIlsubstantially in a straight line to and from l engagement withthefcasing.- The-extent of this outward movement Ais limited byanfupsta'ndin'g ear 29 on each segment engageable with an an- 'nularstop 3U depending from the runner body Ill, whilereturn inward movementof thegripper segments toretracted position is assisted byencircling/upper and vlower coil vretractor springsA 3|,l 32 ttedwithinexternal grooves 33, at the upper and lower ends of the grippersegments- 'I'he lower portion IIa.v of the elastic actuating member I1is `designed as a packing for eiecting an annular seal between the bodyI3 and wall of the casing B. 'I'his portion projects radially outward tosubstantially the lsame extent as the l gripping teeth\or 'wickers 35 onthe exterior of the segments, extendingaround the depend- 'i ing feet 24of these segments to hold. them in-A proper assembled position on thetool. 'The exterior face of the packing section Ila is preferlablyformed with ribs 38`for the purpose "of t producing aplurality'oiseparate annular seals against the casing, and,therefdnefoier greater assurance against leakageof iiuid between thepacking andl casing.

Both the gripper segments IB :and packing I'Ia are moved by hydraulicmeans radially from their retracted positions into engagement with thecasing, uid under pressure passingfrom the inf "terior of'the body I3through the body ports 3l l in generally balloon fashion to force thegripper ber I4 normally abuts the head I6 at the upper end oi.' thebody, but permits the body to move upwardly with respect to it, vinaccomplishing a it The gripper segments I3 are'relatively narrow speciedpurpose described below. 3

The gripper segments IB are arranged circumferentially in juxtaposed.position around the' elastic actuatingmemb'er I1. Each segment includesa body 23 extending lengthwise of the'elasber I'L Sufficient pressurevating member to ,overcome both its inherent elasj ticity resistingdeformation, and. the restaining into the interior of the elasticactuating member I1. .Leakage fof viluid between this member andthe'body is prevented by the opposed lipv seals 38,

33 formed adjacentv the endi of the elastic memis applied to theactuforce 'exertedbythe retractor springs 3I, 32. The `actuating memberI1 is expanded outwardly segments I8 and-packing Ila. into engagementwith the wall of the well casing. So long as. this pressurevismaintainedwithin the. elastic member I'I., the tool is held anchoredin packed oi'f condition within the casing. lOf course, as the pressurewithin the actuating member increases, the greater is the forceembedding the segment wickers 35 into thecasing and holding. the packingIIa thereagainst. As a result, iiuid pressure acting directly upon-:thegripping segments and packing holds them. Lgainst the casing andpreventspressure from'below the tool from forcing it upwardly within thecasing or leaking around and engageone'another when in retractedposition. In view oitheir relatively vsmall-width,` aV `are employed'towhileinretractcdpositlm. Upolibeingexpanded; the segments are separatedfrom one another by small leaving spaces 33 that' are insuiiicient inarcuate extent to permit thel cold or plastic flowing of the rubber orrubberlike material from which the actuating member is preferablyformed. Not mLv is radial owing fas-imam ma anreisen...

casing and the packing I'Ia .mnvedoubwardlyasainstthecasingbyuidpresofthis rubber material between the segments Il incapable of occurring, butthe packing member is also prevented from owing and dissipatinglongitudinally in an upward direction, since, g

as was just stated, the separations 39 between adjacent segments are oftoo small an extent to permit the occurrence of this detrimental eiect.As a result, the gripping elements I8 are not only capable ofanchoring'the well packer to the casing, but they also function toprevent cold or plastic ilowing of the packing material II, I'Ia fromits intended sealing region between the body and casing, even under highpressure and temperature operating conditions, and in the presence ofhydrocarbons in the well bore,

which ordinarily have a very deleterious eilect upon rubber and similarpacking materials."

In order to hold the segments I3 and packing elements I'Ia securelyagainst the casing, the pressure within the actuating member Il must beof the actuating member I1, the back-pressure valve opens againstthe'action of its spring 41 and the fluid pressure below the tool actsupwardly over the. entire cross-section of the lower guide Il and bodyI3, forcingthem upwardly and compressing the packing Ila betweenthesegments Il and the guide I5.. This ac-V tion can occur since thegripping segments I8 are held stationary in anchored condition againstthe Vwall of the casing, but the tubular body I3 isvfree vto slideupwardly along the thrust collar I4, whichv isI held ilxed w thesegments I8` The resultant relative movement eects a shortening of thedistance betweenthe collar I4 and guide I5, and pro-V duces compressionof the packing member I 1a.

The packing'otl! force'due to upward movement or the guide and body withrespect to me gripper segments is relatively large, since, as abovestated,

' wthe pressure below the-tool is acting upwardly greater than'thepressure externally thereof by I an amount which at least equals thatrequired to overcome the resistance of the retractor springs Il, l2andthe tensionv of the rubber actuating member Il resisting itsexpansion outwardly toover a comparatively large cross-sectional area ofboth the `guide I5 and tubular body I3.

As assurance against the exertion of too great a compressive forceagainst the packing member upon upward movement of the guide and body, astop sleeve 5I! is placed atthe upper end of the body I3, this sleevebeing of lesser length than the initial distance between the body headIl and the collar II threadedly attached to the runner body I0. If theguide I5 and body I3 move ward the casing. This pressure differentialmay be maintained within the tool by various exp'edents.y 'Ihe specificdevice disclosed in the drawings or accomplishing this purpose is aback- `pressure valve 40, which is so adjusted as not to open until thepressure within the tool has been increased to a value causing properengagementv of the gripper segments Il and packing lla with the wall ofthe casing. Y

The valve device 4B includes a spider-like valve cage 4| threaded in thelower end of the guidel I 5.

This cage possesses a valve seat 42 screwed in its upper end forengagement-by a valve head 43 secured on a valve stein 44 'by opposedlock nuts 45. 'Ihis stem 44 is slidably received within a valve guide 46threaded in the lower end of the valve cage 4I for thelpurpose ofadjusting the tension of a helical spring 41 received within an annularpocket 4B in the guide and bearingA against the valve head 43 for thepurpose of forcing it upwardly into engagement with its cooperable seat42. The valve guide 46 is threaded with'I in the cage 4I to enable thetensionl in the spring 4l to be varied for the purpose of predeterminingthe pressure requiredto open the valve. This guide is` held in itsadjusted position by means" of a lock nut 49 bearing. against the cage.

Despite the provision of the spring loaded hackpressure'valve Ill, undersome conditions encountered in well bores, the pressures still seem toupwardly suiliciently, the floating .stop sleevell engages the collar IIto prevent any further upward movement ofthe guide and body, vsince thecollar II is rigidly related to the thrust collar I4 through the rimnerbody III, preventing the occurrence of any further relative movement ofthe members under the action. of iluid pressure from below the tool. Q

The present invention also contemplates a control for the ports 31 inthe body for selectively determining the passage of fluid to and fromthe fill equalize internally and externally of the flexible f actuatingmember-l1 while pressure is being imposed upon the fluid within the tooland there below. Whenever this occurs, a slight leakage takes placearound the tool, as indicated by iiuid returns received at the surfaceo! the well bore.

In the` present instance, eiiectiv'e `sealing of the packing I'Iabetween the body and casing is notl entirely dependent upon the pressuredifferential 0f the uid internally of the actuating member.

In addition to this sealing force, pressure below Vthe tool is availedof to maintain the packing in proper sealing-position.

'ill

interior of the elastic actuating member I1. This control deviceconsists of a cylindrical valve sleeve :laudable within the tubular bodyla and adapted to have sealing engagement with upper and lowerseal-.rings 52, 53 provided at the upper end of the body Il and theguide l5, respectively. The upper end of this sleeve 5I is threadedlyattached to a lower sub 53d, which, in turn, is threaded into the uppersub I2 screwed on the lower end of the tubular string C, by means ofwhich the entire gitudinally extending .friction springs 5.4 whoseoutwardly bowed portions are adapted to engage the wall of the casing Bto resist'movementof the 4ruimer body III, lock collar I Iy and thrustcollar I4 attached to its ends, 'and through the elastic actuatingmember Il, the guide I5 and tubular Tbody I3. These springs 54 are heldwithin slots 55 in vthe runner body by an upperV retaining ring 50secured 'to the upper end of the runner body and extendingover the upperinner ends of the springs,and by a lower'ring 51 extendingover' thelower `ends of the springs Due to the resistanceofl'ered by thesefriction springs 54 to movement of the'tubular body I3, the valve sleeveI may be shifted longitudinally within this body from the surface of thebore by raising or lowering the tubing string C.- If the valve sleeve iselevated until its lower portion 5in a :,sraoosn and suitably 1totherunner body. Y

with we para mithin position. the mi run in the well bore, without fearof its Premature setting, since any uidy pressure developed 4ispositioned above the lower seal 53, fluid under ment with this spider.

pressure may pass downwardly from the tubing string C, through the subsI2, 53a and sleeve 5I, around the lowery end 5Ia of the'latterrthroughthe annular space between the sleeve 5I and body I3, and into the ports"for action upon the elas- The depending valve sleeve Y5l is alsoemployed for controlling the operation of. the valve 40 at the; outletend of` the tool. This control is obtained by securing a wingedspider 58to the upper end of the valve stem 44, as by means ofthe opposed locknuts 53, and providing an extension 6|) on the end ofthe valve sleeve 5IAfor engage-y This extension-SII is reduced in external diameter so asnot to seal with y thelower sealing ring` 53 when the sleeve 5l is 43with the seat.

elevated, to allow fluid to pass into the actuating member I1. e Whenthe sleeve 5I is lowered sumclently with respect tothe tubular body I3and guide I5, its extension `6I! engages-the spider .53

within-the tool is incapable of'passing through the Ports 31 to expandthe gripping segments and packing. Moreover, the tubing string C isauto,

4matlcally lled up with uid since the back-pressure Ivalve is held inopenl position. Circulation through the tool can be established at anytime vfor the performance of a washing or other i operation without fearof setting the'tool.

When the'tool is to vbe setl .in the casing, the tubing string isrotated a partial revolution in a clockwise direction, to allow.elevation of the tubing string C for the purpose of raising the valvecontrol sleeve 5| upwardly to a position in which the back-pressurevalve 40 may close and fluid pass through the ports 31 into theactuating member. The friction springs 54 hold the various bodies andcollars'of thetool stationary to permit such rotation and longitudinalelevation to occur, until the lock pin 5I is engaged with the uppermostshoulder 64 of the lock c ollar (see Figure 2). Fluid under pressurewithin the tool may now-pass around the end 5Ia of the control sleeveand into the ports 31 to expand the elastic actuating member I1 andforce the gripper segments I3 and packing Ila against the casing.

Increase in the Ifluid pressure above a predeterand holds the valve head43 from the seat 4,2

against the force of the heli-:al'spring 41. On the other hand, uponelevation of the valve sleeve 5I sulciently, the spring 41 may engagethe head l Various control positions of the valve sleeve are obtainablewith the present device.- lFor the purpose. of positively determiningthese positions from `the surface of the well bore, a locking device isprovided'to hold the valve sleeve 5| in several positions of adjustmentwith' respect to the outlet valve 4I! and the body seal 53.H Thislockingdevice consists of a locking pin 5| secured to 'or J-slot 62 formed inthe'lock collar II.

the-upper sub I2 and extending into a stepped L slot enables the lockingpin 6I, and consequently the controlled valve sleeve 5I secured theretothrough the subs I2, 53a, to have three main positlons, namely, a firstposition in which the valve head 43 is held ofi' its seat 42 and fluidprevented from passing through the body ports 31, a second positioninwhich the valve head 43 canengage its seat and fluid be allowed to. passaround the valve sleeve'5l throughthe ports 31, and a third position inwhich the valve-head 43 can engage its seat 42, but the fluidunderpressure is trapped A-or held within'the actuating member I1 to hold itexpanded -and maintain the 'segments' Il! and y packing I1a against thecasing B.

As illustratedin Figure 1, the'tool Als in ,po-

I sition for movement through the'well casing, `in

which the valve sleeve 5I is in its:lowermost po.

` sition to prevent passage yoi iluidaround the lower sealing ring 53and throughthe ports 31, and in which theA valve head 43 is positivelyheldoli its seat 42. The sleeve is prevented. from moving fromthis'position .until desired by engagement of the lock pin 6I with thevunderside of the low.-

ermost s158933 of theslotl in the collar II.

This` `mined value opens the outlet valve 40 against the action of itsspring 41 and allows. fluid, such as vcement slurry, iells, acids andthe like, to be Aforced into the formation. As stated above, thispressure also acts upon and elevates the valve guide I5 and tubular bodyI3 to pack oil the tool more securely. A

Upon release of the pressure within the tool,

and with the valve sleeve in the position disclosed yin Figure 2, thegripping members I3 and packing I1a retract'ifrom the casing to theirinitial position, the linherent elasticity and retraction tendencies ofthe rubber actuating member lI1 operating upon the feet 24 of thesegments to move .them toward the packer body, which action is assistedby the encircling coil springs 3|, 32.

e. However, should/it be desired to hold the packer anchored andsealedofi in the casing upon re- 1 lieving of the pressure within the tool,the valve control sleeve 5Ivcan be lowered by lowering the tubing stringC to reengage its external surface with the lower sealing ring 53 beforepressure within the tool is relieved, to entrap the uid under pressurewithin the actuating member I1.

'This lowering of the sleeve 5I with respect to the tool bodies canoccur to itsfullest extent for the purpose of holding the outlet valve40 open (as in the Figure 1 position), or the valve sleeve 5I may beshifted to occupy some intermediate position in which its externalsurface seals with the lower ring 53 but its extension 6l) is spacedfrom the spider 58 to permit the spring engagement of the valve head'43with its cooperable seat 42 (as in the position disclosed in Figure 3).This last-mentioned relationship of parts can be positively' determinedat the surface of the bore by lowering the sleeve 5I and turning it tothe right of the slot (as seen in Figure 2), until the lock pin -BIengages with the under surface of the inter.

meldiatestep 55 in the lock collar Il.

After the desired operation has been performed 'at the point vin wellcasing, the pressure within the actuating member I1 may be relieved toenable the parts to return to their initial retracted positions, and thetubing string C low' ered and rotated -until the lock pin 6I again ismay bey other setting point or its ento the surface of the bore hole cannow occur, while Permitting uid to drain automatically from the tubingstring into the casing. Moreover, since the valve sleeve I is again insealing engagement with the lower moet 5. A well packer. including innerand outer body members adapted for lowering in a. well casing on atubular string, said `inner member being telescoped within said outermember, a

sealing ring I3, any pressure forces within the tool are incapable ofinadvertently setting it against the casing and preventing its'withtranslate said gripping members radially toward engagement with thewall of ar casing.

2. A well packer, including generally tubularbody meansradapted forattachment to a tubular string for lowering in a well casing, an elasticsleeve surrounding said body means with its ends secured thereto, aplurality of narrow circumferentially juxtaposed segmental casinggripping members c-:mpletely encircling said sleeve and extendinglongitudinally thereof substantially parallel to the axis of said Wellpacker, means on said body /means for guiding each of said grippingmembers in a straight line path generally radial of the axis of saidpacker, and means for directing fluid under pressure from the interiorof said body into said sleeve to inflate the latter and bodily translateea'ch of said gripping members Yalong said guiding means into'engagement with the 'wall of a casing.

3. A well packer, including generally tubular body means adapted forlowering in a well casing on a tubular string, a pliant, elastic sleeveysurrounding said bodymeans with its ends secured thereto in leak-proofrelation, a plurality of circumferentially juxtaposed casing grippingmembers completely encircling said sleeve and extending longitudinallythereof substantially parallel to the axis of said well packer, saidmembers having 4elements thereon ,embeddedl within said sleeve, andmeans for directing fluid under pressure into said sleeve to expand itand bodily translate said gripping members radially towards'engagementwith the wall of 'said casing, said `sleeve moving said gripping membersfrom such engagement upon decrease 'in the fluid pressure therewithln.

4. A well packer, including generally tubular body 'means adapted forlowering in a well casing on a tubular string, a pliant, elastic'sleevesurrounding said body means with its ends secured thereto in leak-proofrelation, a plurality of circumferentially juxtaposed casing grippingmembers completely encircling said sleeve and extending longitudinallythereof substantially parallel to the axis of said well packer, saidsleeve comprising a packing member adapted to form an annular sealbetween said body means and wall of a casing, and means for directingiluid under pressure from the interior `of said body means into saidsleeve to expand said packilexible sleeve surroundingl one ofV said bodymembers. a plurality of circumferentially juxtaposed casing grippingmembers encircling said sleeve and seeured te one of seid body members,a casing engageable packing one one of-said body members having one endprevented from longitudinal movement by said gripping members and theother end secured to the other of said body members, and means forvdirecting iiuid under pressure into said `sleeve to shift said grippingmembers into engagement with said casing, said gripping members'servingto anchor their connected body member to said casing, whereby itscompanion body member is movable longitudinally thereof under theinfluence of I uid pressure to compress said packing into rm sealingengagement with said casing,

6. A well packer, including inner and outer body members adapted forlowering in a well casing on a tubular string, said incr member beingtelescoped Within said outer member, a pliant, elastic sleevesurrounding one of said body members with one of its ends securedthereto and its other end secured to the other of said body members, aplurality of circumferentially juxtaposed casing gripping membersencircling said sleeve and secured to one of said members,

said sleeve comprising a packing member adapted to form a se'al with thewall of the casing, and means for directing fluid under pressure intosaid sleeve to expand said packing into engagement with said casing andbodily translate said gripping members radially into engagement withsaid casing, said gripping members serving to anchor their connectedbody member to saidvcasing, Whereby its companion body member is movablelongitudinally thereof under the influence of fluid pressure to compresssaid packing into firm sealing engagement with said casing- '7. A wellpacker, including inner and outer body members adapted for lowering in awell casing on a tubular string, said inner member being telescopedwithin said outer member, a flexible sleeve surrounding said inner bodymember, a plurality of circumferentially juxtaposed casing grippingmembers encircling said sleeve and secured to said outer body member.casing engageable packing meanson said inner body member having one endabutting said gripping members and the other end secured to said innerbody member, and means for directing fluid under pressure into saidsleeve to shift said gripping members into engagement withsaid casing,said gripping members serving to anchor said' outer body member to saidcasing whereby said inner body member is movable longitudinallytherewithin under the iniiuence of iluid to compress said packing meansinto iirm sealing engagement with said casing.

8. A well packer, including an outer body member, an inner body membertelescoped within said outer/ body member, a pliant, elastic sleevesurrounding said inner member with one of its ends' secured thereto andits other end secured to said outer member, a plurality ofcircumferentially juxtaposed casing gripping members secured to saidouter member and encircling pressure to compress said packing into irmsealing engagement with said casing.

' 9. A well packer, including a body adapted for lowering in a wellcasing on a tubular string,

means for anchoring saicl lbody to said casing,

hydraulically operated means for moving said anchoring means intoengagement with said casing, means for directing uid between -the"`interior of said body and said hydraulically'operated means, meansengageable with said casing prior to engagement-of said anchoring meanss with said casing for resisting movement of said body within saidcasing,v and valve means connected to said body and extending withinsaid body, said valve means being connectable to said tubular string andmovable with respect to said body by manipulation of said tubular stringfor opening and closing said directing means.

llivianos L www body 'brmmvulum able 4`with respect oi said tubularstringfor selectively openingand closing said directing.l means-1 to fthe e. of uid and forseletively holding said back-pressure valve open orallowing it to.`f:lose.-`

13. A well packer, including a body adapted for lowering in a.wellrGaSlng on aftubular string, hydraulically actuated-meansycarried-by said -body and adapted for engagement with said cas- 10. A wellpacker, including a body adapted for lowering in a well casing on atubular string, normally retracted means carried by said body,hydraulically operated means for moving said normally retracted meansinto engagement with said casing, said body having a port establishingcommunication between its interior and said hydraulically operated meansto allow passage of iluid to operate the latter.` means vengageablefwith said casing prior to engagement of said retracted means with saidcasing for resisting movement of said body within said casing, and

' valve means connected to said bodyand extending within said body, saidvalve means being connectable to said tubular string and'movable withrespect to said body by manipulation of said tubular string for openingand closing said port.

1l. A well packer, including a body adapted for loweringin a well casingon a tubular string,

ingl means for directing fluid .between the interior of said body andsaid hydraulically actu-4 ated means to actuate the same, `aback-pressure valve for maintaining` anexcess of pressure within saidbody over that externally thereof, and a slidable sleeve connected toSaid body and extending within said body, said slidable sleeve beingconnectable toi-said tubular string and movablefwithgrespectto said bodyby manipulation' of 'said tubular string Ai'or selectively opening andclosing said directing means to the passage of iluid and for selectiveLvholding said back-pressure valve open or allowing it to close. 14. Awell packer, includingv a body adapted for lowering in a !well casing ona tubular string,

.hydraulically actuated means carried by said body and adapted forengagement with said casing, means for directing fluid between theinterior of said body and said hydraulically actuated means to actuatethe latter, a valve formaintaining an excess of pressure within said ibody over that externally -thereof, means engageable with said casingprior to engagement of said hydraulically actuated means with saidcasing for resisting movement of said body within said casing, and aslidable lsleeve connected to said body and extending within said body,said slidable sleeve being` connectable to said tubular string andmovable with respect to said body by manipulation of said tubular stringfor selectively opening and closing'said directing means to the passageof fluid and for selectively holdi' ing said -valve open or allowing itto close.

hydraulically actuated means carried by said body and adapted forengagement with said casing, means for directing fluid between theinterior of the bodyand said hydraulically actuatedl means to actuatethe latter, a slidable sleeve within said body operable by manipulationof said tubular string for selectively opening and closing saiddirecting means to the passage of nuid, means engageable with saidcasing for resisting movement of said body therewithin prior toengagement o! said hydraulically actuated means with said casing, andmeans connectedto said sleeve `and engageable with said body forpositively locating said sleeve within said body in open or closedposition with respect to said directingmeans.

l2. A well packer, including a body adapted for lowering in a wellcasing on a tubular string, `hydraulically actuated means carried bysaid body and adapted for engagement with said cas- -ing, means fordirecting fluid between the interior of said body and said hydraulicallyactuated means to actuate the same, a back-pressurel valve formaintaining an excess of pressure within said body over that externallythereof,

and valve means connected to said body and extending within said body,said valve means being connectable to said tubular string and movl5. Awell packer, including a. bodyl adapted for lowering in awell casing ona tubular string, casing gripping means carried byY said body with thegripping portions thereof substantially parallel of the axis oi' thewell' packer both while in retracted and expanded positions, means onsaid body for guiding said gripping means -in straight line pathsgenerally radial ofthe axis lof said packer, means for directing fluidunder pressure between the interior oi' said body and said casinggripping means to bodily translate the latter along said guidingmeansinto engagement-with the wall oi the casing, a sleeve connected to andextending within said body adapted for connection to said tubular stringand operable by manipulation of 'said tubular string for selectivelyopening and vclosing said directing means tol the passage of fluid, andmeansv engageable with said casing for resisting movement of said bodytherewithin prior to engagement of said gripping means with saidcasingzv'i 1a. A wen packer; inducing a bodyagapd' for lowering in awell casing onatubul 's'tring, hydraulically actuated means carried -lby.fsaid body and adapted for engagement 4.with said casing, meansv fordirecting iiuid-betweenthe interior of said body and said hydraulicallyfactuated means toactuate theflatter, a valvefor maintaining an excesslofv pressure iwlthin'said body over that externally .theredfec vf'sulabmsleeve within said body movable by said tubular string for selectivelyopening and closing said directing means to the passage of iluid and forasv-3,605

selectively controlling opening and closing of said valve, and means.connected to said sleeve and engageable with said body for positivelylocating said sleeve within said body in various selected positions ofadjustment with respect to said directing means and valve.

17. A well packer, including a, body adapted for lowering in a wellcasingon a tubular string, hydraulically actuated means carried by saidbody and adapted for engagement with said casing, means for directingiluid between the interior of said body and said hydraulically actuatedmeans to actuate the latter, a valve for maintaining an excess ofpressurewithin said .body over that externally thereof, a slidablesleeve within said body movable by said tubuthe passage of fluid, andathird position wherein4 said valve is permitted lto close and saiddirect.

ing means is open tothe passage of fluid from lwithin said body.

REUBEN C. BAKER.

CEERTIFI GATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2, 575 ,005.

REUBEN C BAKER.

April 5: 1914-5- It is hereby certified that error appears in theprinted specification ofI the above numbered patent requiring-correctionas follows: Page 2, seepage 5, 'seoond column, line l2, claim 5, for"one one'f read --on one-; line 65, claim Y,

after "fluid" 'insert --pressureof the case in the lPatent Office.

and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correctiontherein that the same may conform to (Seal)` Leslie Frazer FirstAssistant Commissioner' of Patents.

the rec ord asv-3,605

selectively controlling opening and closing of said valve, and means.connected to said sleeve and engageable with said body for positivelylocating said sleeve within said body in various selected positions ofadjustment with respect to said directing means and valve.

17. A well packer, including a, body adapted for lowering in a wellcasingon a tubular string, hydraulically actuated means carried by saidbody and adapted for engagement with said casing, means for directingiluid between the interior of said body and said hydraulically actuatedmeans to actuate the latter, a valve for maintaining an excess ofpressurewithin said .body over that externally thereof, a slidablesleeve within said body movable by said tubuthe passage of fluid, andathird position wherein4 said valve is permitted lto close and saiddirect.

ing means is open tothe passage of fluid from lwithin said body.

REUBEN C. BAKER.

CEERTIFI GATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2, 575 ,005.

REUBEN C BAKER.

April 5: 1914-5- It is hereby certified that error appears in theprinted specification ofI the above numbered patent requiring-correctionas follows: Page 2, seepage 5, 'seoond column, line l2, claim 5, for"one one'f read --on one-; line 65, claim Y,

after "fluid" 'insert --pressureof the case in the lPatent Office.

and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correctiontherein that the same may conform to (Seal)` Leslie Frazer FirstAssistant Commissioner' of Patents.

the rec ord

